Stripe (pattern)

Black and yellow stripes

A stripe is a line or band that differs in color or tone from an adjacent area. Stripes are a group of such lines in a repeating pattern of similar regions.

History

The early history of stripe is unclear but according to the written histories, during the 13th century, Carmelites monk are thought to be wearing brown and white stripes. For over 25 years or so, they resisted orders from eleven successive popes to give up their cloaks, but finally succumbed to Pope Boniface VIII banning stripped clothing from all religious orders. This marks the stripe patterns are not well accepted in the society back then.

The stigma of wearing stripes persists even to the medieval era (as late as 1700's) as Europe's “outcast” population, such as prostitutes, clowns, hangmen, heretics, and lepers, were wearing them as sign of society's outcast. Starting from 1800's onwards, Europe started embracing the Neo-classical style, a stricter and purer style.

But however, back in the United States, stripe's stigma are well entrenched and are still assumed to be vulgar and this leads to the prisoners are wearing the striped prisoner uniform in black and white stripes for both humiliations and discouraging escape attempts until the early 20th century which were slowly phased out by the United States as it represent symbol of shame.

However, once the roaring twenties era had arrived, stripe was being mainstream again as it represents privilege life. First, it can be seen in part of the male fashion and worn as school uniforms, first at public schools, then at universities. Coco Chanel was inspired by the French Navy workers’ uniform during a visit to the French Riviera. The French Navy had been using their classic navy and white striped shirt for a long time (since the 1850s) before Chanel saw it, but as Coco liked the pattern so much, she started to include the now famous striped colour combo into her designs.

Usage and appearance

As a pattern (more than one stripe together), stripes are commonly seen in nature, food, emblems, clothing, and elsewhere.

Two-toned stripes inherently draw one's attention, and as such are used to signal hazards. They are used in road signs, barricade tape, and thresholds.

In nature, as with the zebra, stripes may have developed through natural selection to produce motion dazzle.

Stripes may give appeal to certain sweets like the candy cane.

For hundreds of years, stripes have been used in clothing. Striped clothing has frequently had negative symbolism in Western cultures. Historian Michel Pastoureau explores the cultural history of these design decisions in the book, The Devil's Cloth.

Gallery

• 
  Striped blouse from 1800's
• 
  French Navy sailor wearing classic marinière shirt which inspire Coco Chanel of the stripe design
• 
  Painting of woman wearing striped clothing
• 
  Group of men wearing striped shirt for cricket club photo group
• 
  Row Boat clubs college student wearing striped shirt
• 
  Caricatures of prisoner in stripe uniform
• 
  Striped swimming suit
• 
  Smiling girl wearing orange, black and white striped shirt
• 
  Striped Barber's pole with red, white and blue stripes spiralling endlessly
• 
  Red and white barricade tape

See also

• Square tiling
• Sussi cloth
• The Devil's Cloth
• Argyle (pattern)
• Racing flags
• Flannel
• Gingham
• Madras (cloth)
• Marinière (cloth)
• Plaid (pattern)
• Polka dot
• Tartan
• Tattersall (cloth)
• Diapering

External links

Media related to Stripes at Wikimedia Commons